News Analysis |
Islamabad administration, police and security agencies are in a state of frenzy as it has been conveyed to them by intelligence agencies that Chief Cleric of Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz will lead Friday prayers and issue a policy statement on Election 2018.
It was rumored since election process picked up the pace, that Maulana Aziz would give his point of view and issue a policy statement of the Shuhada Foundation with regards to general elections 2018 being held on July 25.
On Thursday, a senior police official while talking to Morning Mail said they had reports that Maulana Aziz might come to the Lal Masjid on Friday though without making a prior announcement and lead the Jumma prayer and issue a policy statement. In order to bar him from doing so, we have chalked out a plan. However, he declined to share details saying it can’t be revealed at this stage.
To a question if there was a possibility that Lal Masjid Chief Cleric could ask people to vote for religious parties or their alliance like MMA, he said MMA was only using the name of Islam to gain political benefits and we have always opposed their point-of-view.
However, according to sources, a heavy contingent of police, paramilitary forces will be deployed at and around the mosque to thwart any such attempt by the Shuhada Foundation or the Lal Masjid clerics. Spokesperson of the Shuhada Foundation of Lal Masjid, Hafiz Ehtesham Ahmed, when contacted confirmed that Maulana Abdul Aziz would issue a policy statement on general elections 2018 as it was his democratic right.
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Moreover, hundreds and thousands of Lal Masjid followers are keenly awaiting and seeking his guidance on this important issue. However, when asked if Maulana Aziz was going to lead Friday prayers on July 6, 2018 and issue the policy statement the same day, he refused to comment saying, “it might compromise his security and strategy we have made in this regard.” We are keeping our cards close to our chest and would show only when time called for it.
It was rumoured since election process picked up pace, that Maulana Aziz would give his point of view and issue a policy statement of the Shuhada Foundaiton with regards to general elections 2018 being held on July 25.
About Lal Masjid Shuhada Foundation’s opinion on general election taking place in the country, he said “In principle, we are against this system as a ‘pious’ and ‘worthy’ man can’t enter Parliament through the election process that is in place in the country.”
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To a question if there was a possibility that Lal Masjid Chief Cleric could ask people to vote for religious parties or their alliance like MMA, he said MMA was only using the name of Islam to gain political benefits and we have always opposed their point-of-view.
Similarly, Tehrik-e-Labbaik too tried to win political favours by raising the issue of modification in the oath form of Khatam-e-Nabuwwat. Were they sincere and steadfast in their stance they would never let the issue go unnoticed after the sit-in. By participating in this sham democratic process they are going to become a part of it, said Hafiz Ehtesham Ahmed.